By Pat Caldwell
The Enterprise
VALE — Gov. Kate Brown will soon review a list containing 25 local names to consider for appointment to a new economic board.
The Malheur County Court last week finalized its recommendations for the seven-member Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board that will oversee the new economic region encompassing Malheur County areas that border Idaho.
“The governor and her staff will look it over,” said Dan Joyce, Malheur County judge.
The Legislature created the board and furnished $5 million to use for grants and loans on economic and workforce development projects. The board can also seek waivers or exemptions from state laws and regulations it deems to be impeding economic development in the county.
The board is separate from one established by the county court to oversee the new rail shipping facility.
The governor will appoint the members of the board from the list sent by the county.
The Malheur County Court used input from the Ontario City Council, city managers from Ontario, Nyssa and Vale and developed their own roster to create the master list.
Once the governor receives the official list she will encourage the individuals picked by the court to fill out an interest form, said Chris Pair, the governor’s communications director.
“The governor will then work in consultation with staff and stakeholders to make a decision on the final make-up of the board,” said Pair in an email.
The list includes businessmen, educators, farmers, lawyers and government employees.
The 25 local people on the list are:
Dirk DeBoer, Nyssa farmer.
Ralph Poole, Ontario businessman.
Mark Redmond, superintendent, Malheur Education Service District, Parma, Idaho.
Greg Tuttle, Ontario insurance agent.
Mike Kurth, owner, Andrews Seed Co., Ontario.
Tiffany Cruickshank, transportation manager, Snake River Produce, Nyssa.
Bill Winn, Craig Stein Beverage, Nyssa.
Stuart Reitz, agent, OSU Extension Service, Ontario.
George Rodriguez Jr., Partners Produce, Payette.
Jim Maret, Nyssa city manager.
Priscilla Valero, director, Eastern Oregon University’s Ontario Center.
Jana Iverson, superintendent, Nyssa School District.
John Gentry, retired businessman.
Doug Maag, Vale farmer.
Dennis Buttice, Vale, owner, Buttice Forest Products.
Manny Alvarado, athletic director, Ontario High School.
Paul Skeen, Nyssa, president, Malheur County Onion Growers Association.
Larry Wilson, Malheur County commissioner.
Riley Hill, Ontario contractor.
Dana Young, president, Treasure Valley Community College.
Shawna Peterson, Ontario attorney.
Bill Johnson, Malheur County farmer.
Renae Corn, co-owner, Corn Farms.
Andy Bentz, former sheriff and president of Bentz Associates, Ontario.
Mike Glenn, Glenn Brothers Construction, Nyssa.